Funeral Directing - Glossary Flashcards
thank you cards
acknowledgement cards
an altar attendant
acolyte
a funeral rite that is adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved
adaptive funeral rite
those appropriate and helpful acts of counseling, personal and/or written contact that come after the funeral
aftercare
practical and ceremonial washing of a deceased Muslim
Al-Ghusl / Ghusl
the reduction of a dead human body to essential elements through a water-based dissolution process using alkaline chemicals, heat, agitation, and pressure to accelerate natural decomposition; the processing of the hydrolyzed remains after removal from the alkaline hydrolysis vessel; placement of the processed remains in a hydrolyzed container; and release of the hydrolyzed remains to an appropriate part; a form of final disposition
alkaline hydrolysis
in the Islam faith, the name for God
Allah
an elevated place or structure on which sacrifices are offered or at which religious rites are performed; in the Christian faith, a table on which the Eucharist or Holy Communion is offered
altar
an unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials
alternative container
certification/legalization of a document for international use (under terms of the 1961 Hague Convention)
apostille
in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of an archdiocese
archbishop
Hebrew meaning container; a casket made entirely of wood with no metal parts
aron
the meeting between the funeral practitioner and the client family during which funeral arrangements are discussed, and may refer to pre-need or at-need situations
arrangement conference
when a death has occurred
at need
leader of multiple churches in a particular denomination; in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of a diocese; in the Latter-day Saints faith, the leader of a single congregation
Bishop
the title of the Buddhist priest
Bonze
a term used in the Buddhist faith to describe a calendar that is used to determine an accurate time for casketing the deceased, services, and disposition
Book of Dates
in the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of a religious order without being ordained
Brother
relating to a social or religious organization
brotherhood
the act of placing the dead human body in the ground
burial / interment
a legal document, issued by a governmental agency, authorizing transportation and/or disposition of a dead human body
burial-transit permit / disposition permit
time set aside for friends or relatives to pay respect for the deceased prior to the funeral service
calling hours / visitation / visiting hours
a religious singer who assists the clergy; one who assists the Rabbi in the Jewish faith; or one who assist the priest in the Eastern Orthodox faith
cantor
in the Roman Catholic faith, Bishops who have the right to participate in a Papal election
Cardinal
a rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric (FTC definition)
casket
one who actively bears or carries the casket during the funeral service and at the committal service
casket bearer / pall bearer
disease, injuries, or complications that resulted in death
cause of death
a person who designs and officiates a personalized ceremony or rite; the officiant who celebrates the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church
celebrant
an area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human remains
cemetery
a portable shelter employed to cover the grave area during the committal
cemetery tent
a legal copy of the original death certificate
certified copy of a death certificate
the portion of the church surrounding the altar, usually enclosing the clergy; area behind the altar or communion rail
chancel
a building or designated area of a building in which services are conducted
chapel
a person chosen to conduct religious exercises for the military, an institution, or a fraternal organization
chaplain
Hebrew meaning “Holy Society”; a group of men or women who care for the dead; they may be referred to by laymen as the “washers”; in the past, they took care of all funeral arrangements and preparations for Jewish funerals
Chevrah Kadisha
a letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for burial in a Roman Catholic Cemetery
Christian Burial Certificate / Priest Lines
a structure, room, or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains
columbarium
that portion of the funeral conducted at the place of disposition of dead human bodies
committal service
any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (airline, train, etc.)
common carrier
usually an elected officer without medical training whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths
coroner
a portable stretcher commonly employed in a transfer vehicle for the moving of the deceased
cot
the result of the reduction of a dead body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat
cremated remains
the reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber
cremation
a furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies; a building that houses a retort
crematory
a Christian symbol without the corpus
cross
one who carries the crucifix/cross during an ecclesiastical procession
crucifer/crossbearer
a cross with a figure or image representing the body of Christ (Corpus)
crucifix
a chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person
crypt
a subordinate officer in a Christian church
Deacon
a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition, and final medical information pertaining to the deceased
death certificate
a newspaper item publicizing the death of a person and giving service details; in some parts of the US, can contain the same information as an obituary
death notice
a dead human body
deceased
a federal agency that administers benefits provided for veterans of the armed forces
department of veteran affairs or VA
in the Roman Catholic faith, a geographical grouping of parishes under the jurisdiction of a Bishop
diocese
disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the deceased present
direct cremation
any method of disposition of the human remains without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the deceased present
direct disposition
procedures or invitation intended to facilitate an organized departure
dismissal
liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox churches
divine liturgy
pertaining to the church or clergy
ecclesiastic
song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead
elegy
governing officer of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions; specific duties dependent upon various denominations
elder
in the Jewish faith, a memorial service; literally “God full of compassion” ; usually the last prayer of the funeral service
El Malei Rachamin
the placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum
entombment
a commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker
epitaph
a leader(s) of the procession or guardian of the group, such as by military, police, etc.
escort
the consecrated elements of Holy Communion
Eucharist
layperson sanctioned to administer Holy Communion and other assigned tasks
eucharistic minister
an oration praising an individual, usually after death
eulogy
in the Roman Catholic faith, the ending portion of the Funeral Mass
Final Commendation
when the funeral establishment receives notification of death
first call
a private time for the family to view the deceased before public visitation begins
first viewing (preview)
one of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service); this involves services of the funeral provider in the locale where the death occurs and preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer); funeral rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included
forwarding remains
the entry way into a church, funeral establishment, or other public building; entrance hall
foyer / narthex / vestibule
relating to a social organization
fraternal
specialty vehicle designed to transfer casketed remains
funeral coach / hearse
the movement of vehicles from the place of the funeral to the place of disposition
funeral procession
any funeral event performed
funeral rites
the rites held at the time of disposition of human remains, with the deceased present
funeral service
the first two and last two verses of a Buddhist hymn sung at the funeral service
gatha
a printed list of goods and services offered for sale by funeral providers with retail prices; considered the keystone of the funeral rule
general price list (GPL)
the act of bending the right knee as an indication of reverence or as an act of humility
genuflect
gift or small sum of money tendered (tip) for a service provided
gratuity
an excavation in the earth as a placement for interment; interment space
grave
a ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave
graveside service
webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave
grave straps